No More Plain Box on Wheels
FordInsideNews.com
March 17, 2012
By: Austin Rutherford

Once again through JokeForBlog, we have now learned the design direction of the last of the Transit "family." After the Transit Custom and Transit debut later this year, Ford will roll out the all-new second generation Transit Connect.

Clearly sharing the design theme with its two bigger cousins, the new Transit Connect we know will ditch the 90's econobox feel. This will make certain that the next compact utility van will not only sell well as a commercial van, but will also have healthy growth in the retail market. With sales headed downward due to its age and much better products like the Renault Kangoo on the market, this all-new Transit Connect should be welcomed with rejuvenated sales in the markets it sells in.

The all-new compact will be built in Spain, while Turkey will soldier on producing the last generation for some time. The timeframe of arrival into North American is not yet known.

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Kansas City built Transit is finally seen
FordInsideNews.com
May 16, 2012
By: Austin Rutherford

Just a month after its all-new smaller sister debuted with the front wheel drive Transit Custom, the rear wheel drive Transit has had a design patent leak just months before it was suppose to debut. Thanks to JokeForBlog, we now have a good idea what the Kansas City built Transit will look like.

The design of the front is very close to the smaller Custom model, but after that the full-size van carries its own design due to the size difference. In the US, we will see this powered by at least a diesel and the 3.5L V6 EcoBoost.

Expect the vehicle to start sales next year in North America. European sales will most likely start sooner.

The Next Wave Begins
FordInsideNews.com
May 16, 2012
By: Austin Rutherford

Now that the Fusion/Mondeo and MkZ are nearing completion. Ford is putting all efforts into the next stage of CD4 on the front burner. FIN has now learned of some interesting information of this product cadence.

As part of its ultra secretive nature, Ford has named this second wave of mid-size products simply CD4.2. This CD4 program, like CD4.1, will further combine the efforts of Ford's subsidiaries and in the process will save the company money.

According to a source connected with the program, the next Ford Edge - including MkX - and S-Max will use the same modified CD4 platform. We expect them not to share body styles however since this would compromise their current segments. All three should have their own "top hats."

This raises the question: Will the Edge be produced in Europe and/or the S-Max in North America? This is not yet known, but we will tell you either way when we find out. What we can tell you is that the current Edge was deeply wanted by Ford of Europe, but the lack of a diesel killed it. This is a problem that the next Edge will not have.

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